Kier Group, up 2.2%, announced that it would release its full year 2023 (FY23) results on 14 September 2023. Separately, the company announced that it has been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the redevelopment of Oak Academy in Bournemouth.
SDI Group, up 1.7%, announced the appointment of Stephen Brown as Chief Operating Officer (COO), with effect from 28 September 2023.
Oracle Power, unchanged at 0.1p, announced the completion of maiden diamond drilling programme at the Northern Zone gold project in Western Australia by Riversgold Limited (Riversgold).
Aferian, down 9.4%, announced that its 24i integrated solution has been used by UK telecoms, media, and internet company, Virgin Media to launch and monetise a new line-up of themed Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) channels on Virgin TV.
Nexteq, down 3.5%, announced that it would publish its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2023 on 6 September 2023.
UK markets ended higher last week, amid prospects that the Bank of England (BoE) would pause its rate hike cycle. On the macro front, UK’s GfK consumer confidence improved in August, as cost of living crisis eased, while the nation’s public sector net borrowing deficit narrowed more than expected in July. Meanwhile, UK’s manufacturing PMI fell to a 39-month low in August, while the nation’s services PMI dropped more than expected in August. The FTSE 100 index advanced 1.0% to settle at 7,338.6, while the FTSE AIM 100 index rose 0.6% to close at 3,487.7. Also, the FTSE techMARK 100 index gained 1.1% to end at 6,238.0.
US markets ended mixed in the previous week. On the data front, the US manufacturing PMI contracted for a fourth straight month in August, while the nation’s services PMI dropped to a 6-month low in August, driven by drop in demand. Additionally, the US existing home sales declined to a six-month low in July, amid rise in borrowing costs, while the nation’s durable goods orders dropped by most since April 2020 in July. Meanwhile, the US Richmond Fed manufacturing index advanced as anticipated in August, while the nation’s Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose in July. Moreover, the US new home sales rose to a 17-month high in July, following an increase in demand for new property units, while the nation’s initial jobless claims fell for a second straight week in the week ended 18 August 2023. Separately, Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell during his Jackson Hole speech said the central bank will ‘proceed carefully’ on further rate increases. The DJIA index fell 0.4% to end at 34,346.9, while the NASDAQ index gained 2.3% to close at 13,590.7.
